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AIR, Georgetown University Offer First School-Justice Partnerships Certificate Program

10 Jul 2015

News Release

Washington, D.C. – The American Institutes for Research (AIR) and the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform (CJJR) at Georgetown University are partnering to offer the first School-Justice Partnerships Certificate Program: Fostering Success for Youth at Risk.

“We are delighted to work with Georgetown University in this new effort,” said Cheryl Vince, AIR senior vice president and director of the Health and Social Development Program. “This is an excellent opportunity to serve the field drawing on our respective strengths in fostering collaboration between education and juvenile justice, and preventing young people’s early involvement in the system.”

AIR experts—including David Osher, Simon Gonsoulin and Greta Colombi—will serve as faculty along with CJJR instructors. The program will prepare school and district staff, law enforcement, juvenile justice and other youth-serving community leaders to limit the flow of young people entering the juvenile justice system, a trajectory that can derail their future opportunities and well-being. Curriculum topics include culture change and leadership, family and youth engagement, cross-systems practices and policies, and school-based practices and policies.

“Educational success is a gateway to positive outcomes for all youth, but especially for children and youth who are in high-risk circumstances,” Gonsoulin, an AIR principal researcher, said. “Unfortunately, many students at risk of entering the system do not get the services and supports necessary to thrive in school. Some are excluded from school because of harsh and disproportionately applied discipline policies.”

AIR conducts research and provides technical assistance on issues related to many facets of juvenile justice, youth development, and student supports in educational settings. It operates the National Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center for the Education of Children and Youth Who are Neglected, Delinquent or At Risk for the U.S Department of Education and the Center for Coordinated Assistance to States for the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

CJJR supports and educates leaders across systems of care to improve outcomes for, and to promote the positive development of, youth at risk of entering the juvenile justice system.

About AIR
Established in 1946, with headquarters in Washington, D.C., the American Institutes for Research (AIR) is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance both domestically and internationally in the areas of health, education, and workforce productivity. For more information, visit www.air.org.